Globally, one in four people, or about 2.1 billion, still lack access to safely managed drinking water, with the greatest inequities concentrated in humanitarian, rural and small municipal settings where weak institutions, chronic underinvestment and climate pressures reinforce vulnerability.
Despite global commitments, progress remains slow because the water sector faces a deep financing gap, persistent governance and capacity weaknesses, and limited political prioritisation. An estimated additional USD 138 billion per year is required to meet core water targets, yet many low‑income and climate‑vulnerable countries lack the institutional strength and investment‑ready systems needed to attract and absorb finance.
These challenges are compounded by a long‑standing bias toward short‑term, infrastructure‑led interventions that neglect the institutional, financial and operational foundations required for sustainable service delivery. The result is a recurring cycle of build‑and‑neglect, high system failure rates and declining confidence among policymakers and investors.
Recent cuts to WASH aid, alongside intensifying climate shocks, have further weakened already fragile systems – particularly in humanitarian contexts where emergency water services are increasingly expected to operate for decades. Without a decisive shift toward sustainable, climate‑resilient and nationally anchored water services, millions of vulnerable people will remain without reliable access to safe drinking water, undermining health, livelihoods and long‑term development.
